Loretta a good bet to start for Astros with utility, ability

DUNEDIN, FLA. — If 13 seasons in the major leagues have taught Astros utility infielder Mark Loretta anything, it's to expect the unexpected.

No wonder the guy carries three different gloves in his travel bag.

"I've been in this position in my career before, where it doesn't look like you have a spot to play," Loretta said. "My experience has been that something always happens, whether an injury or trade, to open up a spot."

Like second baseman Kaz Matsui's starting this season on the disabled list, putting Loretta in position to start Monday's season opener at San Diego.

"As a reserve player, you've got to always be ready to play," Loretta said after hitting a two-run homer against the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in an 8-3 loss that concluded the Astros' Florida portion of spring training. "When injuries happen, you can step in and be sharp."

It's a role Loretta has adapted to since last year with the Astros after spending the previous four seasons as an everyday second baseman with San Diego and Boston.

The presence of Loretta and fellow veteran utility infielder Geoff Blum is the reason the Astros don't seem overly concerned about having to begin the season without Matsui.

"That's why we signed those guys — specifically for things like this," manager Cecil Cooper said. "We knew they would get a chance to play. You never want anybody to get hurt, but you've got two very capable guys to step right in."

The utility role isn't that new to Loretta, who was used as a do-everything infielder early in his career with Milwaukee. In his first full season in 1997, Loretta played at least 15 games at all four infield positions.

Prior to signing with the Astros before last season, the two-time All-Star searched for a starting job at second base but then signed with Houston. The plan was for Loretta to split time at second base with Craig Biggio, but Loretta was inserted into the starting lineup at shortstop when Everett broke his right leg on June 14.

Loretta played 72 games at shortstop, his most at the position since he played 90 games and led National League shortstops with a .995 fielding percentage in 2000.

"That's why you have to be ready," said Loretta, who hit .287 in 133 games last season. "The best-laid plans don't always come through."

"The toughest thing to deal with in baseball is the ambiguity of it all — where you're going to be, what your role is going to be," Loretta said. "Unless you have a no-trade clause or you're a superstar, pretty much every player deals with ambiguity."

There could have been some tense moments between Loretta and the Astros when the two sides went to an arbitration hearing last month to determine his salary for this season. The Astros won the case and will pay Loretta $2.75 million, rather than the $4.9 million he was asking for.

Earlier this week, Loretta spoke with Tal Smith, the Astros' president of baseball operations who handles arbitration cases, for the first time since the Feb. 18 hearing.

"I told him congratulations," Loretta said. "I thought they had a good case. I thought we had a good case. That's the system that's in place. I've heard horror stories about arbitration, but I didn't see any of that in my case."

With Matsui expected to miss at least the first two weeks of the season, Cooper said he may platoon Loretta and Blum. Or the manager may base each day's decision on pitching matchups or who's hotter at the plate.

"I've got an idea," Cooper said, "but you guys can guess at it until then."